Swimmnig-pool construction



.uy l0, 1923.

Mmm@ J; F.; BQORAEM SWIMMING P'nL coNsTaucTLom Filed March le, 1922 -3Sheng-smet 1 BKMM ATTORNEY Mmmm@ J` F. BOORAEM SWIMMING POOLCONSTRUCTION Filed March 8, 1922 3 ShOets=ShOet 2 ncsoomem/ July l0,41923.

ATTORNEY J. F. BOORAEM July 1o, 1923.

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTI ON -Filed March a, 1922 s smwwshet 5mwumulllnl.

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ATTORNEY Patented July lO, i923.

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PATENT JOHN FRANCIS BOORAEM, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

SWIMMNIG-POOL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed March 8, 1922. Serial No. 542,099.

Tic present invention comprehends cer-I tain improvements in swimmingpool constructions and more particularly, improved means for taking careof. the continuous overflow from the pool and also providingadequatedrainage for the floor surface waf l5 ter atthe edge or marginof the pool toprevent the flow or drip of such water back into the waterof the pool. In attaining the above purpose, in onefemhodiment of theinventionl provide an improved combina` 'tion rail, cap and guttercourse extending entirely along each sideof the pool and which is soconstructed that itscross-sectional area is comparatively limited,thereby rendering my new construction easy to in-y stall andcomparatively inexpensive. As will be laterI more fully disclosed, thecomponent partsofthe combination rail, cap `and gutter course are soconstructed and relatively ai ranged that the over-flow water from thepool instead ofA flowing-by gravityy through a longitudinally slopinggutter to anoutlet, is directed transversely from the gutter in the samedirection as the over-flow so `that no opportunity is afforded for mucusand other foreign matter to collect upon the walls of the gutter. lnother words, the iinproved construction entirely eliminates thenecessity of sloping` the gutter longitudinally to the drains, which isquite undesirable in some'types because `of the poclretsformed in thegutter by shrinkage and relative displacement of the gutter sectionswherein mucus may collect with unsanitary and unsightly results.

Another 'feature of the present invention resides in the provision of adrainage trench 'into which the over-flow from the gutter is immediatelydischarged in a transverse direction, and which also receives the floorsurface water around the marginof the pool through suitablescuppers,Hoor plates orl drains arranged in the iloor surface. rihis trench maybe thoroughly cleaned by removing certain ofthe scupper or drainagesections arranged in the floor without in any way interfering with thecontinued use of the pool, the provision of the drainage trench alsomaterially reducing the area of the gutter surfacel adjacent to the poolnecessary to be cleaned and eliminating the necessity of providing` amultiplicity of outlet connec' tions extending to a common drainage pipelaid around the pool behind the wall struc# ture.

l/Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists inthe improved swimming pool construction and in the form and relativearrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, il lustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequentlyincorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein I have disclosed several desirable and practicalembodiments of the invention and in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical section through a constructionaccording to the present invention;

F 2 is a fragmentary section taken substantially at right angles toFig.y l on the line 2 2 therein; `v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away showingthe iinp'roved construction;

Fig. 4 isa perspective view showing a slightly `modified form of floorplate or drain;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a slight modification;

.F ig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of thesame;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 7 7 in Fig.5;

Fig. 8 is also a partial perspective with intermediate parts broken awayand showing a further slight modification;

F 9 shows a modified form of slab, floor plate or drain-insert inperspective;

Fig. l0 shows a further slight modiiication in a fragmentaryperspective;

Fig. l1 is a similar View showing a further modification, and

Fig. l2 shows alternative sections of still further forms of theinvention.

ln one embodiment of my present invention which have illustrated `by wayof ei:-` ample in Fig. l of the drawings, the retaining wall l which isof concrete or other similar material and surrounds the pool, isprovided in its upper edge along each side of the pool with a continuouslongitudinally extending` shelf or recess, the surfaces of Which arepreferabl f disposed at angles With relation to ea-ch other. Theseangular surfaces, as Well as the side sin-faces of the Wall l whichbound the pool, are covered With a suitable Waterproof material l.

ln the construction of the pool in accordance with the presentinvention, theside Walls of the pool are composed of courses ofenameledv brick or tiling 2 laid in superposed relation against thewaterproofing material l. rlfhis enameled brick, as clearly shown in thedrawings, extends for a certain distance above the base of thelongitudinal shelfinthe Wall or foundation l. lntermediate and rearcourses of enameled brick or tile, designated 3 and 4r respectively, arevlaid upon the Waterproofing' material corering the horizontal'basesurface of the marginal shelf in the Wall l, the enameled brick or tilel being; engaged against the vertically extending portion of theWaterproof material at ythe rear side of said shelf. The intermediatecourses of brick 3 are spaced a suitable distan-re from the brick 4l; toprovide a drainage trench 5 of predetermined Width.

This trench is provided with a longitudif. lnally sloping or inclinedbottom which, if

desired, may consist of separate bricks, slabs or ytiles of suitablematerial. The bricks `3 are likewise properly spaced from the brick 2constituting the lining for the pool and provide supporting; means -forthe combinationy rail and gutter units1tobe presently referred to, asWell as formingthe outer Wall ofthe trench 5.

The cap, gutter course and life rail units are preferably made in twosections, the cap course units 6 in this embodiment ofthe inventionbeing; Aof the form illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings.rllhe gut- `ter and rail course units 7 maybe relatively narrow incomparison to thel units of this character as heretofore used, each ofsaid rail and gutter course units beine; provided-k at tits outer sidewith an upstanding rail or flange 10;` The ,cross-sectionalform of thesei gutter course units is such as` to provide transversely and inwardlysloping' or .inclined base surfaces as hereinafter. more particularlyreferred to. A. relatively small amount ofv mortar, cement or otherplastic materiakind-icated at 8, is required to fill in between the tileliningi 2 and the brick 3 continuous gutter having' lno longitudinalin-` clination. Each of the gutter units is further provided at theinner end thereof and l,on its upper side at the rear of the gutter llWith. spaced bosses l2 having' ribs upon theirv up per edges to engagein complemental re-"l (fesses formed in spaced parts 13 of the cap unitsor sections, Each cap unit is preferably of hollow construction undoneside thereofis properly .shaped to form' the upper and inner side Wall`of `the gutter lh lt is lof course, understood that a suitable mortaror cement is used between the parts 12 and t3 of theqcap and `f ,rutterunits to se`v eurely bindy the same together.

For the purpose of further securing the cap units rigidly in place, Iprovide the vertical anchoringr bolts 13'( These bolts' extend throughchannels or recesses inthe contacting side faces of adjacent capunitsasv` shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Theupperportion of each cap unit 6` at the inner side thereof isrecessed or rabbeted as at .14, thereby providing shoulders,'\vhich inconjunotionnvith the seatingsurfaces'l.

of the brick course l, receive and support the `floor, scuppers orAdrainage slabs 16. These slabs vmay be of glazed 'terra cotta,

bronze `or similar materials land provide means for closingthe trench.5. At intervals these seuppers ordrainage plates'are removable for.insertion of hose for scouring outV the trench.. As herein shown. eachof said sl absus Hush lat .its edges With the floor 1T of the pool, thenppensurface of the-slab` slop-v ing inwardly and!dowmvardly Ufrom eachedge thereof. to a longitudinally,extending slot 16 which affordsVmeansmfor draining the surface Water onjtlie floor Surrounding thepooljnto the trench'. lt -is also to be noted in .this connection that,the luppersur-ik :faces of the Vca] auni t G slightly slope. inf.,wardly. thereby direetinglthe dripl Water.

from the bathers to the slots 16 and `preventingthetiow of said Waterinto the ,water of the pool.

It will be; apparent-,from 'the abov'eldeseription thatthestructure.consistsfesseu\ tially of only two series of units. vThegutter1l which is produced` bythe1 assemblage of said, unitslin the` mannerstated, [is in l direct eoinmunication With the. trenchV 5 through the ach shaped passages indicated,

at` 18 which are formed betweenthe op, n `posed innerend portions ofeach complea ,100

mental pair of cap and gutter units. heretofore noted, the-bottomsurfaces of these passages formed by the gutter units are transverselyinclined in an inward and downward direction'as shown at 19 and`substantially constitute unbrolaen continuations of the gutter 1l.lVhile any desired number of these transverse communicating passages maybe provided, in order to take care of the most rapid and voluminousoveriiow from the pool, l preferably provide such openings between eachpair of cap and gutter units. ltwill be noted that these passages arecomparatively wide so that any possibility of clogging is practicallyeliminated and the free transverse flow or outlet of the water from thegutter ll. into the trench 5 will be. assured under all conditions ofuse. it the same time, however, owing to the two-part construction andthe particular form and manner of assemblage of the parts-or units,

it is found that suoli structure is entirely adequate to sustain theweights which may be imposed thereon and in practice is so designed.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, Y

the passages i8 may be providedhwith arch shaped top walls which may addto some extent to the strength and appearance 'of the structure,though'the rectangular formation of such passages as illustrated in Fig.6,will not unduly weaken the structural .unitsW This is particularlytrue in view of the cross-sec tional form of the unit shown in thislatter figure and the extensive supported area thereof. Both the cap andthe gutter secH tions or unitsare made hollow wherever practicable inorder to secure lightness and avoid warping without sacrificing rigidityand strength. Such construction likewise, permits of uniform shrinkagein accordance with well established practice in the manufacture of clayproducts.

ln Fig. el of the drawings I have shown a slightly different form ofthedrainage slab 16a` wherein there is provided a flat de pressedcentral upper surface 17 lined with longitudinally spaced ,perforations18L at its opposite sides. The marginal surfaces surrounding` saiddepressed surface portion lare inwardly and downwardly `inclined fordirecting the water to said perforations as will be obvious. Theseperforations ohviate the likelihood of the foot of the bather being in-`jured and at the same time provide adequate drainage for the floorsurface. ln the construction shown in Figs. and 6, the use of theseparate scupper sections or drainage slabs is dispensed with and thecap `units 6 are `of greater width so as to extend rear-4 wardly overthe trench and tol seat` at their rear edges upon the bricks l` so thatthey will be flush with the iioor surface. lnl this construction theupper surfaceof the 4cap unit is depressed and provided with oppo- Asysitely slopingareas directing the surface water into theslots oropenings 6a. The under surface of the front or outer end of each capsection is centrally concaved as indicated at 6b to afford additionalclearance for the overflow water. Also, the front surfaces of these capunits 6 at their meeting or contacting side portions are rounded orconve-:red as shown in F 7 so that the flow of the water is not retardedand no oppor-` tunity is givenfor mucus or other foreign matter to beretained thereon. c

ln each of the constructions above described, it will be understood thatthe overflow water passes immediately from the gutter ll transverselyintov the trench 5 from which it is drained into a suitable outlet, anddoes not flow longitudinally in said gutter.

ln Fig. 8 of the drawings l have shown the drainage plates or slabs 2Owhich are relatively thin and may be formed of metal or terra cotta, asdesired. l have also shown said plates as being perforated, but ifdesired, they may be replaced by similar plates 2l of the form shown inFig. 9, having a single longitudinal central slot.

ln this. form of my invention the cap units and the gutter and railunits may be composed of an inner body portion 22 of cement, concrete orother similar material upon which a surface layer or veneer 23 of waterproof cement, decorative composition, imitation ceramic of mosaic tilingmaybe placed.

ln Fig. l() of the drawings l have illustrated a structure with a facingcomposed of separate tiles, bricks or blocks 24 laid iu courses showingsubstantially the same eiffect produced by monolithic construction ofcement as in Fig. 8 and then lining or marking oil'l thesurfaces thereofin the manner well known to the art in' imitation of tiling.

ln Fig ll l have shown the structure provided with a surface of ceramictiles or mosaic blocks 25 embedded in the monolithic concrete or otherplastic body structure aud in l2 l have shown fragmentary secs tions ofeach ofthe structural forms disclosed in Figs. 8, l10 and 1l,respectively. lt will be understood that in each of these constructions,the transverse communicating passages 4connecting the trench with thegutter for the immediate drainage of the latter prevails.

Ina swimming pool constructed as herein described, the over-flow andsplash water received in the gutter 1l does not. as heretofoie, flowlongitudinally alongr the gutter to `a drainprovided therein at thelower end of its'sloping surface, but finds a direct and immediate exitthrough passages 18, continuing to liow in the same direction as inpassing from the pool into vthe gutter. Therefore, such flow is'not inany way arrested'or checked as would be the case if the water wererequired to suddenly change its course. andflow. in a directionat-.right angles tothe .initial directionv of flow when .it leaves thepool. On the contrary, Ithe flow is entirelyunimpeded and it maybe saidlthat the gutter `will always be vsubstantially emptyI since the. waterpasses immediately .there-Y from, into the trench 5. This trench is ofample capacity to takel care of all over-flow as well asthe drip ordrainl Waterl and as above noted, provision is made for the easyflushing and cleaning lof the walls of this trench through removablefloor plates, .without interfering with the continued use of the pool.

Another advantageincident to my pres.v

ent construction is that it is unnecessary to puncture .thewaterproofing material l as has heretofore beenrequired in making theproper connections to the piping outletsor :leads at from 5 ft. to 20ft. apart between the` gutter and the common drain pipe eX-.

tending ,around the pool. In the present instance it will be seen that Ientirely dispense with the use` of such a 4pipe line, as it `is onlynecessary. to provide a single outlet connection at one end of. the poolto the drainage trench 5. I, therefore, avoid the expense incidentto theprovision and installation ofthe large number of connections zbetweenthe overflow gutter and the round of any desired degree in order torapidly discharge the Vwater therefrom. In prior r' constructions havingthe round about carryolf or drain pipe connected by pipe leads with aplurality of openings` in the gutter, said longitudinal slope of thepipe was necessarily restricted. Therefore, the new constructionoperates to more rapidly carry off the splash and over-How water anddirects the scum and mucus outof sight into the collecting trench intheshortest possible time and by the quickest route. I am thus` :also ableto reduce the depth of the gutter so that it may be easilycleaned with ahose, the. discharge owing directly into the trench.

An additional advantage obtained by the piesent construction, resides inthe eliminan tion of the separate life rail andthe construction of the.railfand gutter in the form of a single` unit. This reduces thev costofv installation, and adds tothe neat and attractive appearanceof themarginal Vwall of the pool.

This application is in part a continuar tion ofan applicationiiledbyline on DecemberxBO, 1921, under Serial No; 525,991.

:continuous marginal gutter for the l/Vhilel have, hereinishown andAdisclosedseveralv desirable i and satisfactory. embodiments oftheinvention, .it will nevertheless 1 be understood that my improved poolcon-V struction is susceptible Ytostill further modi.- lication, inthe,form,'.construction and' rel-` ative arrangement of its severalparts andI, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all suchlegitimate changes as may be fairly embodied'within the spirit and scopeof vtlfie invention as claimed.

I claim:

LA swimming lpool construction com-1` prisingan overflow gutter and atrench ex,-

tending longitudinally of the margin of the.,

pool in 4spaced relation te each other-and transverse passages affordingdirect coinmunication between. said gutter vand trench.

2. A swimming pool construction lcom-A prisingnn overflow gutter and atrench spaced apart andextending `in parallel relation to the poolmargin andpassages affording, direct communication betweenthe. gutterand trench, the base .walls of the:

gutter and passages having a continuous transverse inward and* downwardinclination operating to continue the initial ilowof the waterwithout'interruption from the gutter into said. trench.

3. A swimming pool construction. coinprising gutter course units and capcourse units forming an overflow receiving gutter extendinglongitudinally of the pool linargin, a drainage, trench atthe-innersides of the gutter andcap course units, said units..

having means affording vrtransverse comn'ninicating passages between thegutter and thetrench for directing the .water -in unin-..

terrupted lflow from said gutter yinto the trench.

4. A swimming pooly construction com-.1m

prising a supporting wall, waterproofing on the surfaces of said wall,and two series. of complementary units together forming a and a trenchatithe inner sideof thegutter witliinethe Ywater proofed area'of saidwall,

pool, V

said Aunits being lconstructed to provide transverseA passages aiording.direct ,come

munication between the gutter and said trench. i

5. A drainage system for swimming.

pools comprising a continueus marginal gutter and a continuous drainagetrench at' the outer side of saidgutter andbelow the saine andinopen'communication withsaidy gutter to receive the overflow waterwithout interruption of its .initial transverse course.`

of flow.

@LA swimming pool `construction comprising a trench extending along eachside of the pool, cap course units at the inner side; of the trench'nextadjacent to the` pool having transverse passages permitting of theuninterrupted transverse flow of overiiow water from the pool into saidtrench, and drainage members for the floor surface surrounding the poolclosing the upper side of said trench.

7. A swimming pool construction coinprising spaced superposed courses ofbricks forming a drainage trench therebetween, su` perposed courses oftile forming the side walls of the pool, a gutter structure consistingof a plurality oflike units supported upon the tile and one of thesuperposed courses of brick, said gutter units having transversely anddownwardly sloping surfaces permitting of the uninterrupted initialtransverse flow of the water from the pool through said gutter and intothe trench, and means for draining the floor surface water into saidtrench.

8. A swimming pool construction com-` prising a wall, transverselyspaced superposed courses of brick forming a trench therebetween andinner superposed courses of tile constituting the wall of the pool,combination rail and gutter units supported upon said tile and one ofthe brick courses, cementitious anchoring means for said units fillingthe space between said tile and brick` courses, said gutter units beingdisposed above the base of the trench and having transversely inclineddownwardly sloping walls directing the overflow water from the poolwithout changing from its initial course from the gutter into saidtrench.

9. A swimming pool construction comprising combination gutter and railcourse units, cap course units supported upon said gutter and railcourse units and forming therewith a continuous: gutter, a drainagetrench at the inner side of said gutter and cap course units, said unitsbeing constructed to provide transverse passages affording means for thedirect flow of the Water Without changing its initial course from thegutter into said trench.

10. A swimming pool construction comprising combination gutter and railcourse units, cap course units supported upon said gutter and railcourse units and forming therewith a continuous gutter, a drainagetrench at the inner side of said gutter and cap course units, said unitsbeing constructed to provide transverse passages affording means for thedirect flow of the water without changing its initial course from thegutter into said trench, drainage means for the floor surface watercovering the upper side of the trench, the upper surfaces of said capcourse units being inclined to direct the Surface water to said drainagemeans.

1l. A swimming pool construction comprising a combination gutterand railcourse unit, and a separate drainage tunnel, the gutter surface slopingtransversely and downwardly away from the rail to direct the overowwater into a separate drainage trench.

l2. In swimming pool construction, a combination gutter and rail courseunit, a complementary cap course unit, and a separate drainage trench,said units being provided with projections adapted for interlockingengagement to support the cap course unit upon the gutter and rail unitand together forming part of a continuous gutter having transversepassages between said projections at the outer side of the gutterthrough which the over-How water may pass Without interruption of itsinitial course of flow into a drainage trench.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, Ihave signed myname hereunder.

J. FRANCIS BOORAEM.

